Katelyn hadn’t expected to be discovered so quickly. She slowed her breathing and carefully shifted her position to the side.

Luckily, the corridor wall beside her provided some cover, and she pressed herself against it.

The debt collector moved closer to where she was hiding. He walked slowly, making each step quiet and deliberate. His shadow stretched long in the light, making him look even more menacing. For a moment, it felt as if time stood still.

Katelyn clenched her fists, ready to spring into action. Her attention stayed fixed on his shadow, which grew longer on the ground as he approached. Her heart beat faster with each step he took.

Two.

One.

She silently counted to herself.

Soon, he was just a few steps away. If he reached the corridor and turned his head, he’d see her.

A bead of cold sweat ran down her back.

She saw the man’s shadow on the wall. He was holding something, likely a knife, with its blade catching the light in a menacing way. Suddenly, Dale scrambled up from the ground and bolted for the exit. The man turned around and chased after him without a second thought.

Katelyn waited until they were out of sight before stepping out from her hiding spot.

It seemed that Dale might turn out to be a valuable lead. Collecting her thoughts, she made her way back to the hall on the first floor.

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Vincent spotted her immediately among the crowd. He nodded to the people around him and moved quickly to her side.

He looked into her eyes and sensed right away that something was bothering her. “Did something happen?” he asked.

Katelyn replied in a serious tone, “I saw Dale, the Earl’s nephew.”

Before Vincent could respond, another guest approached him with a glass of wine, eager to strike up a conversation. This banquet was a golden opportunity for businesspeople to network and exchange valuable contacts, and Vincent was no exception.

Katelyn nodded and said, “Go ahead. We can talk later.” She lifted the hem of her gown and walked away, giving him space to handle his business. She planned to find a quiet corner to relax, just as she had before, but within minutes, as she neared the corner, a glass of red wine was suddenly hurled in her direction.

The person throwing the wine aimed right at her face. Though Katelyn moved quickly, some of it still splashed onto her dress. The dress was a custom designer piece, one that hadn’t even been shown on the runway yet.

Though the dress was black, the red wine left a noticeable stain on the fine fabric. Katelyn’s expression hardened as her eyes met Elora’s. Elora’s eyes burned with anger, her grip tightening around the wine glass. Her voice was filled with venom.

“You bitch! Did you forget what I told you? How dare you try to seduce my fiancé again!”

Elora raised her voice on purpose, and everyone around turned their heads toward the commotion. Even among the elite, the love for drama was a strong instinct, especially when it was this explosive.

Katelyn kept her gaze steady and smiled with a hint of sarcasm.

“Princess Elora, is this how your family taught you to behave? It’s truly enlightening.”

Katelyn’s contempt for Bartley grew stronger in that instant. Without his involvement, her clashes with Elora would never have reached this point.

She had already made it clear that she had no interest in being friends with Bartley. However, he seemed determined to stir up Elora’s jealousy. ? ? ? ?s, ?s? s Find1Novel.net

Elora stated angrily, “I won’t hold back against a shameless slut like you.”

She had never felt such hatred toward another woman. Because of Katelyn, Bartley’s attention had strayed, and now their engagement was on the edge of breaking apart. Without Katelyn, their relationship wouldn’t be on the verge of collapse.

In Elora’s mind, Katelyn was to blame for everything that had gone wrong in her life. As her angry words filled the room, the crowd began exchanging looks of disdain, mockery, and disbelief. Who was this foreign woman who dared challenge Elora over a man?

Katelyn remained composed, calmly picking up a glass of champagne nearby. What she did next left everyone in shock, some even gasping aloud.

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